Tag: 2 Timothy 3:3

Are We in the End Times? Day 15

On December 4, 2021

(2Ti 3:3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

As we continue with this series, I pray that you realize that these posts are not based on my opinions. I provide Scriptures for everything so that you can know the truth. Some of my own family despise my boldness for the Lord. But it’s not me they hate. It’s God, whether they want to admit it or not.

Jesus said that when we began to see certain signs, we would be able to recognize that we are at the “beginning of sorrows.” I quote scripture because I know that God’s word is Truth!

(Mat 24:4-8) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (6) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. &7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Today’s sin goes hand-in-hand with these verses. We have wars in the Middle East and rumors of greater wars coming. We also have nation rising against nation, especially against Israel. We also have famines and pestilences like we’ve never had before. Covid-19 has affected the whole world. There has never been a pestilence that has affected every single nation on this earth! This is certainly monumental!

Most countries who don’t practice democracy are anti Christian. This is why democracy is so important for our country. You can be certain that Christians will be persecuted if our country abandons democracy. Open Doors USA yearly publishes the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted; there are currently 65 countries in total who do so but they list the top 50. When we stop to look at statistics, we find there are 195 countries in the world today. That means that 33% of this planet persecutes Christians! When looking at their map, we find that two countries south of our own borders do so! Drug cartels do not want Christians “cleaning up” their business so they are eliminated. Open Door states:

There are countries on the list which have a rather large Christian population and remain on the list for numerous reasons. In countries like Colombia, Christians face persecution from rebel groups in certain parts of the country. While non-Christians also experience violence from these groups, Christian leaders are specifically targeted because many people have left the rebel groups after coming to Christ. The church is often seen as a threat by these groups because of this and is often attacked.

According to a USSA News report:

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) released a report on how hate crimes against Christians and Jews have increased dramatically. Compared to the previous year (578), it means a 70 percent increase in crimes against Christians. The number of anti-Semitic hate crimes also increased, from 600 to 2,316.

Just in Europe alone, hate crimes against Christians went up 59% and against Jews it almost quadrupled just in one year! It’s easy to see how those who do good today are being attacked in unbelievable proportions!

Look at our own country! Good, honest, hardworking people who protect their property from rioters and looters, are being attacked! Nor are law enforcement allowed to go in to stop it. Their properties and livelihoods vanish in just a few minutes of rioting! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the country we came to love so dear has changed; and it’s not for the good.

But don’t be discouraged, dear reader! We are not to fret because we have Jesus Christ, and nothing is catching Him by surprise! We are to continue to do good and to tell others the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ and Him alone. He will put everything in order, in Good order, when He returns!

(Act 4:10-12) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Jump to Day 16

Are We in the End Times? Day 14

By Kate Plourde

On December 3, 2021

In Devotionals, End Times

(2Ti 3:3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Good morning! It’s a beautiful sunny day in Northern Virginia! Even though it appears to be so warm outside, it isn’t! It’s a brisk 27 degrees but it sure is nice and toasty inside 😊 I thank God for the invention of heat!

Today’s word is a simple one but yet has such a powerful and frightening definition. Fierce is a small word but it certainly packs a wallop! It is defined as:

Hostile and violent, especially by nature or temperament; ferocious.
Characterized by or showing hostility.
Extremely powerful or destructive.
Merriam Webster

Could anyone have imagined the fierceness displayed in our country as of late? The rioting in the streets and destruction of property seem to be a daily occurrence on the news. One only has to look at the development of social media to understand. It’s as though it has produced people who can say anything they want because they are not face-to-face with the person they are being mean to. We would not see this kind of violence and hostility twenty years ago! There’s nothing pretty about this at all.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the “knockout game” that surfaced in New York City a few years ago. Groups of teenagers thought it was funny to go up to a senior citizen on the street and knock them out with a sucker punch! What in the world???!!! Yet another group of teenagers set a homeless man on fire! The fierceness in these teenagers’ hearts is unbelievable to me. This is not something that happens overnight. Sinfulness has developed over a period of years to a point where it doesn’t even phase them!

The scriptures are quiet clear about this:

Ps 11:5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Violence for violence sake is all over the news; whenever a group doesn’t like the outcome of a law, regulation or news story, they riot in the streets and steal from stores. This is anarchy pure and simple and God is not the author of it. God hates violence and will judge it.

But what is a country to do? Are we to sit back idly and do nothing, thinking it will all go away? What does the Bible say?

(2Ch 7:14) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The people of our country need to humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways and pray! There is still time for God to turn things around in our country if only we will repent of our wickedness! We saw a turning on 9-11 but there was no repentance. Therefore, our country is going the way of the world and can only end in destruction. 😥

All these sins point us to the end times. We must be ready for the Rapture if we are saved. If you happen to be reading this and are not saved, it is no coincidence. God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!

Jump to Day 15

Are We in the End Times? Day 13

By Kate Plourde

On December 2, 2021

In Devotionals, End Times

(2 Ti 3:3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Good morning! This series is seriously going by so quickly! I can’t believe that we are nearly half way through already!! I’ve learned so much and stand convinced we are living during an exciting time! Christ could come rapture His church at any moment. Nothing needs to happen before this event. However, it is the restraining power of the Holy Spirit that keeps this world in order. This study shows us the attitude of mankind at the end times. Can you now imagine once the Holy Spirit is removed? 😲 I’m thankful I won’t be here to witness it. But I am heartbroken knowing that some family members will be left behind. I pray that you are not one of those.

As we continue our study, I find that today’s word is an unusual word to be applied toward the attitude of mankind in the end times! It obviously doesn’t mean what we “think” it means in today’s English. Merriam Webster defines it as:

not continent: such as: (1) unable to voluntarily control retention of urine or feces in the body (2)a: lacking self-restraint (2)b: not being under control

I’m sure this isn’t what the Apostle Paul meant – it wouldn’t make any sense. So let’s dig a little deeper and see what the word actually meant at the time that the Bible was translated into English. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary (which contains the definitions of words used during that time period):

INCON’TINENT, a. [L. incontinens.] Not restraining the passions or appetites, particularly the sexual appetite; indulging lust without restraint or in violation of law; unchaste; lewd.

The definitions in Merriam Webster’s dictionary came second while this is the primary definition in Noah Webster’s. We should lean toward the latter’s definition if we are to make any sense of mankind’s attitude in the end times.

Today’s mindset is whatever “feels good, do it”! But is it a biblical mindset? Is this what God would ask of us? No! So how are we supposed to gauge the moral compass of the world? How can we be sure what is right and what is wrong? God’s word, the Bible, is our ultimate guide, reader! God gave His word to mankind to be their “measuring stick, or ruler” in life. We can’t measure ourselves by comparing ourselves to someone else. God wants us to measure our spiritual lives to His word.

(Joh 12:48) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Just because the world says it’s OK to have babies aborted, it doesn’t mean it is right! Just because it has become law doesn’t make it right. One must turn to the ultimate guide and that is God’s word. It’s should not be, “what does the world or the law say”? It should be, “What does God’s word say?”

God’s says that in the end times, incontinence will be prevalent amongst the unbelieving world. There are anywhere from 64-100 genders according to Google. Really? A world that is incontinent came up with that and is currently pushing their agenda so much that it is gradually becoming accepted. Kids in public school can’t use pronouns to refer to a person! Has this world gone crazy? What does the Christian do with this? Do we sit by idly and keep quiet? No! What is evil is still evil and what is good is still good, no matter what we are told by a sinful world.

(Isa 5:20) Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
(Isa 5:21) Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
(Isa 5:23) Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

God’s word is quite clear as to what happens to people who do these things. They have eliminated God’s word from the schools, from the government and now from their homes. It’s no wonder the unbelieving world is incontinent. God will have the last word, however.

(Isa 5:24) Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

These sins laid out so clearly in 2 Timothy 3:1-9 are exactly what the heart of man is like today. Is it any wonder we are in the end times? Don’t take this lightly but do take a spiritual inventory of your own heart and see where you are. Do you come up short according to God’s word?

Jump to Day 14

Are We in the End Times? Day 12

By Kate Plourde

On December 1, 2021

In Devotionals, End Times

(2Ti 3:3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Good morning, dear Reader. 😀 Every morning I wake up looking forward to spending time with the Lord as well as sitting at my laptop and writing. I pray for inspiration and wisdom to be able to communicate what God wants me to, not what I want to write. Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes not so easy. My heart fears that I will receive negative comments and be falsely accused but that fear must be set aside and left in the capable hands of my Father. Lord God, Almighty and King of the universe. There is nothing that is too hard for You, Lord. I know that You want the world to know and love You. I pray that You would use this blog to reveal Yourself to them. I also pray that You use these topics to Your glory and honor, Lord.

It isn’t difficult to know the meaning of today’s sin. A false accuser is someone who wrongly accuses another, or a slanderer. Boy, can we say YES that this is definitely prevalent in our current times? The news reports false information; they report stories filled with lies so that they can influence their viewing/listening audience. Why? The spirit of the antichrist is alive on earth and the goal is to move us toward his agenda, which is a one world government where he reigns.

Our country is on the verge of anarchy and it will happen if the righteous do not stand up in defense of Truth, amen? We must call out what is wrong and say what the Bible has to say about the devil’s agenda to enslave people.

(Psa 107:2) Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
(Eph 5:11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

We must be bold for the Lord and speak up when someone is wrongly accused. The evil works of Satan are running wild and if Christians don’t speak up, we are literally turning this country over to his control. False accusers come in many shapes and forms, at any given time. We must be wise as we deal with false accusers.

(Mat 10:16) Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Christ told us to be wise but yet be harmless as doves. We are not to resort to the same violent tactics as the unsaved world. It is best to arm ourselves with God’s word and let His word fight our battles. Truth is what defeats the lies of false accusers.

(1Sa 17:47) And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

The Lord is always there amongst us and His Holy Spirit will provide exactly what is needed when it is needed. Remember, the battle is His and He always wins His battles.

Deu 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deu 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Jos 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
Psa 60:12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Psa 108:13 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

We are so blessed to have God Almighty to fight our battles against false accusers. Remember, the Lord wins in the end. Be encouraged and fight for what is truth and righteousness!

Jump to Day 13

Are We in the End Times? Day 11

By Kate Plourde

On November 30, 2021

In Devotionals, End Times

(2 Ti 3:3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

I woke up to what will be a glorious day! There’s a heavy frost on the ground in my part of the country. Some of you have snow already! Today’s picture even “feels” cold, doesn’t it? 😄 However cold it is, it is a necessary season that prepares us for Spring! Not only is it necessary for the earth, but it speaks to us spiritually, amen? We don’t want our hearts to become hard but to be soft and ready for the seed of faith to grow. So let this seed of faith grow, Heaven Father. Take that seed, water it and regenerate our hearts so that we may be of service to You and Your Kingdom to come!

As I continue writing on this topic, I find today’s word, “trucebreakers,” quite disturbing. The term explains itself but it’s interesting to see what was intended by the Holy Spirit. Just what did He have to communicate to us? Who is the only one who has never broken a promise? The answer is emphatically God!

God has never broken a promise or a covenant! We can find 272 verses in the Bible that contain the word “covenant.” With so many verses, it must be important to God, amen? Is it any wonder to you that covenant breakers would be prevalent in the end times? It isn’t to me. Can you imagine if God broke His promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ? What would we do?

A good example of trucebreakers can be found right in the institution of marriage. What used to be considered holy is now considered “old fashioned.” At one time, vows were taken seriously and couples would work through their difficulties in marriage because feared what divorce would do their family. Divorce not only separates husband and wife but it destroys the children. The world today has convinced itself that it is OK and the grass is always greener on the other side. After all, the world says it’s easier to just leave and marry someone else. But what does God say?

(Mar 10:4-9) And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. (5) And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. (6) But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. (7) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; (8) And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh .(9) What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines it as:

Also known as breaking a promise, commitment or contract.
TRU’CE-BREAKER, n. [truce and breaker.] One who violates a truce, covenant or engagement. 2 Tim 3.

To examine it even further, the Greek word for trucebreaker is:

G786
ἄσπονδος
aspondos
as’-pon-dos
From G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G4689; literally without libation (which usually accompanied a treaty), that is, (by implication) truceless: – implacable, truce-breaker.
Total KJV occurrences: 2

I find it interesting that this word is also used in Romans 1:31. The same Greek word for trucebreaker is used here for “implacable”:

(Rom 1:31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Noah Webster defines “implacable” as:

IMPLA’CABLE, a. [L. implacabilis; in and placabilis, from placo, to appease.]
Not to be appeased; that can not be pacified and rendered peaceable; inexorable; stubborn or constant in enmity; as an implacable prince.
Not to be appeased or subdued; as implacable anger; implacable enmity, malice or revenge.

Now that you have read these definitions, don’t you see that the words don’t mean the same as today’s modern definition? We can have a clearer understanding of what the Scriptures say and we can see how it applies to marriage. Couples live together rather than get married – it’s unbelievable how this is even seen amongst “Christian” couples! My heart aches to see the decline in marriage and the choice being made to live together. God says that fornication is sin but no one wants to think about that. The divorce rate amongst “born again Christians” is 33% according to these statistics! Is it any wonder that born again Christians are not the testimony they should be to the unbelieving world? We are no different than they are! We ought to be ashamed of ourselves! Is God not the center of these Christians’ lives? Apparently not! They have taken Him off the throne and put self on it.

Dear reader, if Christians are trucebreakers, then we cannot condemn the world for doing so. Is it any wonder that this is a sin indicating the end times? It’s not being done by an unbelieving world, but by believers also!

Jump to Day 12

Are We in the End Times? Day 10

By Kate Plourde

On November 29, 2021

In Devotionals, End Times

(2 Timothy 3:3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Good morning, dear Reader! Is it a good morning? How did you start your morning? Did you sit down with your favorite beverage and watch TV? Or did you sit down with your favorite beverage and read your Bible? Jesus said,

(Mat 6:21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

So what is your treasure today? Is it in your wealth? Is it with the one you are in love with?

I truly believe that today’s reading proves we are in the end times! Our world is filled with people who are “without natural affection”! Just what is this natural affection? When a husband and wife have a baby, they don’t have to fall in love with that baby. The love that spills forth from their heart comes naturally. It is a God-given gift and one that cannot be replaced. Therefore, this type of affection is one that is between parents and their children. This affection was not under scrutiny in previous years; it was reserved for those families that were severely broken and dysfunctional.

Statistically speaking, in recent years (since the 1960’s), we have seen a terrible decline in the institution of the family. Single family homes is one of the contributors. Another is the legalization of abortion 51 years ago, in 1970. Prayer and the teaching from the Bible were removed from schools in 1963. This decline was a direct result of the removal of God in our society. This decline resulted in parents not teaching their children from the Scriptures. We do, on the other hand, see parents looking down at their cell phones and wasting countless hours instead of spending those hours loving their children and teaching them what the Bible has to say about the things they are learning in school.

We see parents who leave the teaching to the public schools, television and others. The results are children who do not have that respect and love for their parents, and vice versa. Parents don’t have a vested interest in their child’s spiritual education.

(Pro 22:6) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
(Eph 6:4) And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
(Deu 6:6-7) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (7) And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Friend, God is holy and desires a relationship with His creation. He desires that we grow in truth and grace. His word teaches us how to be good parents and how to raise children who will love Him and grow spiritually. Today’s children are disrespectful and belligerent to their parents; they mimic what they see in the home, but foremost what is on television and their friends’ homes. Children should not be a nuisance to their parents but viewed as a precious gift from the Lord!

(Psa 127:3) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Women have lost focus on what is important in life. I understand that many women have to work outside the home in order to make ends meet. A working mom comes home exhausted from work, knowing that her chores don’t end when she leaves the office. She has more at home waiting for her. Her family receives the dregs of her energy and patience. It’s even worse if she is the only parent in the home! Her challenges are great but still doable if the Lord is kept the center of the home. Even though I was born again and a working wife and mother, it was very difficult to have anything left for my family at the end of a hard day at work. It took every fiber of my being to give my family the very best of me and not what was left over.

Children need both mother and father because each parent has a set of different skills given to them by God. On a side note, I’ve been married over 47 years at this point, and I’ve seen what strengths my husband has and how he applied those strengths in raising our sons. He taught them to be men. What a wonderful father he is! As their mother, I taught them how to take care of themselves so when they left home, they would be prepared (such as doing their own laundry, cooking enough things to keep them alive, cleaning their surroundings so they don’t live in filth).

An eye opening experience for me was growing up with a mother who worked a full-time job and two part-time jobs to help get my father out of debt brought on by alcoholism. Because she was not at home most of the time, I didn’t learned to sew, cook or do laundry before I was married. I learned things from my best friend’s Mom, as well as my precious mother-in-law. She was the one who taught me most things that a woman should know to take care of her family.

Natural affection for children thrives when God is in the home. When God is not in the home, children are thought to be a burden; and what is in the heart comes out of the mouth and in the parent’s attitude.

(Mat 15:18) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Granted we have seen the decline of the family for the last 60 years so you may think that this is not indicative of the end times. But tragedy such as this does not happen over night. It’s a slow process and what we see today is kids raising kids without God as their center. The natural affection of a husband and wife toward their child is no longer the majority, but sadly the minority. How sad this is! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Jump to Day 11